CD Projekt SA revealed they used AI in replicating deceased VA’s voice in its latest expansion release for Cyberpunk 2077.
Deceased Actor’s Voice Replicated in Cyberpunk 2077 Using AI
CD Projekt SA Consulted with Reczek’s Family on the Actor’s Voice Emulation
In a statement released to Bloomberg, CD Projekt SA said it used AI technology to recreate the voice of the late Milogost Reczek, the Polish voice behind Viktor Vektor. While he passed away in 2021, his voice was brought back for the game’s latest expansion in 2023, Phantom Liberty.
CD Projekt SA confirmed that it had consulted with Reczek's family and received permission to use AI to reproduce his voice. The company explained that it chose this approach to pay tribute to Reczek’s stellar performance as the beloved ripperdoc, Viktor Vektor, in the game.
AI Software Respeecher Used for Cloning Voices
Mikolaj Szwed, CD Projekt SA’s localization director, stated that they didn’t like the idea of replacing Reczek in the expansion as he was one of the best Polish voice talents. Instead of recasting the role entirely, CD Projekt SA hired a different voice actor to deliver new lines for the character.
They then used Respeecher, a voice-cloning software based in Ukraine, to create an algorithm that altered the dialogue to match Reczek's voice. Szwed mentioned how supportive Reczek’s sons were throughout the process.
Another AAA game that used the services of the voice-cloning software is God of War Ragnarok. The game included artistic credits for Respeecher and its synthetic speech artist, Valerii Zablotskyi-Drohan.
Voice Actors Stance on the Use of AI in Games
The news has been described as an "interesting news nugget" coming at a time when debates are heating up over the use of AI in the creative and entertainment industries. The unregulated use of AI has become a controversial issue, leading to recent strikes by writers and actors who fear the misuse of their work without proper authorization.
The video game industry has seen similar stances. In September, performers and professionals in the video game industry initiated a strike as part of their negotiations with gaming companies. SAG-AFTRA CCO Ray Rodriguez emphasized the threat posed by the unregulated use of AI to anyone who makes their living using their voice, image, or performance.
Source:
Bloomberg reports on statement released to them by CD Projekt SA regarding use of AI
